Akron Opens MAC Track and Field Championships in Strong Fashion

Thursday, May 12

University of Akron

Mid-American Conference Championships

Akron Opens MAC Track and Field Championships in Strong Fashion

May 12 | Track & Field

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TOLEDO, Ohio - Directed by a one-two finish in the women's pole vault and strong opening efforts in the multi-events, the University of Akron track and field teams garnered solid results on the opening day of the Mid-American Conference Track and Field Championships on Thursday, May 12.

After one day of competition, Akron sits in second and third place, respectively, in the women and men's team races. The Zips' women's squad owns 27 points, four behind Kent State, while in the men's race, Akron has recorded 16 points, six in back of Eastern Michigan.

"I was very pleased with the performances today," Akron head coach Dennis Mitchell commented. "Having 27 points on the women's side was above expectation. On the men's side, we're sitting where we should be. Our throwers came through today, our decathletes did their job and of course it was great to go 1-2 in the pole vault. Tomorrow is a big day, we have to be ready for it."

The Zips finished first, second and fifth in the women's pole vault with senior Caroline Hasse (Potsdam, Germany) successfully defending her 2015 MAC title eclipsing 13-10.50 (4.23m).

Redshirt sophomore Rebecca Pietsch (Dusseldorf, Germany) earned second-team All-MAC honors with a career-best jump of 13-6.50 (4.13m), while junior Becky Szabo (North Olmsted, Ohio) finished fifth with a clearance of 13-2.50 (4.03m).

Sophomore Jackie Siefring (Covington, Ohio) entered the heptathlon's opening day as the top-rated competitor and she did nothing to dissuade those opinions winning two events en route to leading after four events with a cumulative score of 3,345.

Siefring posted career-best marks to win the high jump (5-5.75/1.67m) and 200 meters (24.62), while placing second and third, respectively, in the 100-meter hurdles (14.06) and shot put (38-1.25/11.61m). Freshman Shawnn Foster (Cheektowa, N.Y.) stands in ninth place in the heptathlon with a four-event cumulative score of 2,660.

Senior Megan Dornisch (St. Mary's, Pa.) opened the competition for the Zips registering a third-place finish in the women's hammer with a throw of 189-11 (57.89m).

Bolstered by a career-best throw of 211-2.50 (64.37m), freshman Ian Behm (Volant, Pa.) earned a second-place performance in the men's javelin. Behm's mark represented the fifth-longest throw in program history and earned him second-team All-MAC accolades.

Joining him on the medals' podium with fourth- and sixth-place efforts on the strength of marks of 199-4.50 (60.76m) and 188-1.75 (57.34m), respectively, was senior Alex McCune (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and redshirt junior Quentin Cieslinski (Madison, Ohio).

McCune, Cieslinski and freshman Kamar Majid (Akron, Ohio) made their marks on the opening day of the decathlon registering five-event totals of 3,778, 3,576 and 3,373 to remain in contention for podium finishes entering second-day competition in second, third and sixth place, respectively.

McCune was balanced in his performances finishing first in the long jump (23-2/7.06m), second in the high jump (6-4/1.93m) and 400 meters (51.87) and third in the 100 meters (11.18) and shot put (42-2.75/12.87m). Cieslinski placed second in the shot put (43-11.25/13.39m) and third in the high jump (6-4/1.93m), while Majid finished fourth in the 100 (11.33) and 400 (52.44) meters.

Closing out the Zips' efforts on the day was podium finishes in the men's hammer from seniors Zack Shull (Columbus, Ohio) (5th-191-8/58.41m) and Bobby Mitman (Mansfield, Ohio) (6th-191-0/58.21m).

The second day of the MAC Championships opens with the men's and women's 10,000 meters at 8:30 a.m. before the conclusion of the multi-events kicks off with the 110-meter hurdles in the men's decathlon and the long jump as part of the women's heptathlon at 10 a.m., respectively. Field events begins with the women's shot put at 12:30 p.m., while the preliminary round of the women's 1,500 meters opens running events at 12 p.m. The men's 3,000-meter steeplechase closes out the day's action at 5 p.m.

WOMEN'S TEAM STANDINGS: 1) Kent State (31 points), 2) Akron (27 points), 3) Ohio (16 points), 4) Central Michigan (15 points), 5) Eastern Michigan and Miami (10 points), 7) Bowling Green (7 points), 8) Ball State (1 point), 9) Buffalo, Northern Illinois, Toledo and Western Michigan (0 points)

MEN'S TEAM STANDINGS: 1) Eastern Michigan (22 points), 2) Central Michigan (18 points), 3) Akron (16 points), 4) Buffalo (6 points), 5) Kent State (0 points)

THURSDAY WOMEN'S FINALS:
Hammer: Megan Dornisch (3rd-189-11/57.89m); Javelin: Jackie Siefring (9th-124-2/37.85); Pole Vault: Caroline Hasse (1st-13-10.50/4.23m), Rebecca Pietsch (2nd-13-6.50/4.13m), Becky Szabo (5th-13-2.50/4.03m)

HEPTATHLON: Jackie Siefring (1st-3,345), Shawnn Foster (9th-2,660); 100-Meter Hurdles: Siefring (2nd-14.06), Foster (9th-15.23); High Jump: Siefring (1st-5-5.75/1.67m*), Foster (12th-4-8.25/1.43m); Shot Put: Siefring (3rd-38-1.25/11.61m), Foster (6th-35-9.50/10.91m); 200 Meters: Siefring (1st-24.62*), Foster (10th-26.95)

THURSDAY MEN'S FINALS:
Javelin: Ian Behm (2nd-211-2.50/64.37m*), Alex McCune (4th-199-4.50/60.76m), Quentin Cieslinski (6th-188-1.75/57.34m); Hammer: Zack Shull (5th-191-8/58.41m), Bobby Mitman (6th-191-0/58.21m), Maurice Harris (8th-173-2.25/52.78m*)

DECATHLON: Alex McCune (2nd-3,778), Quentin Cieslinski (3rd-3,576), Kamar Majid (6th-3,373); 100 Meters: McCune (3rd-11.18), Majid (4th-11.33*), Cieslinski (6th-11.52); Long Jump: McCune (1st-23-2/7.06m*), Cieslinski (4th-21-6.75/6.57m), Majid (6th-21-0.75/6.42m); Shot Put: Cieslinski (2nd-43-11.25/13.39m*), McCune (3rd-42-2.75/12.87m), Majid (5th-37-0.25/11.28m*); High Jump: McCune (2nd-6-4/1.93m), Cieslinski (3rd-6-4/1.93m*), Majid (5th-5-11.25/1.81m); 400 Meters: McCune (2nd-51.87), Majid (4th-52.44), Cieslinski (5th-52.94)

*career-best marks